True story: back in July, I got a notice that my rent was being raised. I’d lived in the apartment for almost two years, and they pulled this trick on me the previous year: raising my rent by $104/month. The first time, I just accepted the rate increase. After all, I’d received a sign-on deal […]

“Write down every penny I spend? That would never help me.”“What a waste of time.”“I already know where all of my money goes.”“Tracking every purchase is obsessive.”“Money is the root of all evil – if I pay that much attention to it, it will consume me.”“I don’t spend any money!” All of the above are […]

This article is part of a series called Graduating? which focuses on personal finance advice for fresh college grads. I hate the word “budget.” Not because I think budgets are bad, but because of the images that the word conjures. A massive spreadsheet with dozens of categories, and the whole thing is just yelling at […]

Budgets are the first thing people think of when I tell them that I’m “into personal finance.” There’s an assumption going around that I’m the Great Supreme Queen of Budgeting, ruling over all of the lesser peons with my Glorious Budget of Power, Puppies, and Being Awesome. Ok, so, no one has actually worded it […]

About Stephonee

Stephonee (or "Stephanie" on her alcohol-purchasing-and-car-driving card) has been sharing her personal finances, observations, and real talk about money on Poorer Than You for 10 years - a third of her life.Learn more...

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